The database and "ARCHEO " (software) were initially conceived
in 1985 to receive the results of Jacques DASSIÉ's air
archaeological prospections. These results had to be presented in a
form equivalent to that of the handwritten card of declaration of
archaeological discovery prescribed by the Sous-Direction de
l'Archéologie.

Thereafter, it appeared desirable to be able to accomodate work
of other prospectors (air or ground). Lastly, following a request for
various Companies, ARCHEO became a genuine tool of archaeological
inventory, multifile, able to manage all types of sites. Program
ARCHEO and its archaeological files ARCHEO_n are actually used by the
Service Régional de l'Archéologie POITOU-CHARENTES,
(SRA), as well as within various Archaeological Companies in Charente
Maritime, and by various independant prospectors .

Moreover, archaeological file cards accomodate all
complementary texts (Bibliographies, etc), maps and color
photographs. These capacities, single among archaeological data
banks, are gathered under the name of

"BANQUE ARCHEOLOGIQUE POITOU-CHARENTES ".

Program " ARCHEO "

Program " ARCHEO " is a software conceived especially to manage
the archaeological database "ARCHEO" support of the BAPC. Its
vocation of editor and manager of archaeological cards enables him to
treat the card of declaration SRA, while supplementing it by new
information: geology, typology, mailing list, number of edition etc.
In addition to normal functions of making up, conservation and
restitution of the cards, other more complex functions ensure sorting
and multiple selections, thus constituting a powerful tool for
analysis and search sets of themes. Comfort and ease of use are much
larger with this especially dedicated program.

Technical means

The current version of program " ARCHEO ", with a file of 3000
cards, occupies approximately 150 Mo on hard disk. This occupation is
directly a result of the iconography presented. Each image color,
full screen (640x480 pixels), 256 colors, requires in compressed
version, 50 to 70 KB per image. The station PC compatible will be
equipped with a graphics board and a SVGA screen. To facilitate the
access to pictures to stations with insufficient space on their hard
disk, the BAPC also functions (only in advisory mode) on CD-ROM.

FUNCTIONS OF PROGRAM " ARCHEO "

Responsibilities

Each organization or person in charge of file can only reach
actively (writing, modifications or cancellations of cards) its own
file, presented like " active " in the title of the personalized
program, this in order to guarantee the full Authors's
responsibility.

"Passive " functions (reading, selection, multicriterion
selections, search for 'commune' (parish)) are carried out on the
totality of the files present, in a completely transparent way for
the user. We wish for this program the simplest possible and
completely conversational use, i.e. the computer dialogues with his
user who answers by introducing the data requested. Many tables
propose possible answers and provide the necessary thesaurus.

Writing

A safety system authorize writing on the only file of the
holder. From the very start of writing, the program announces the
possible empty cards (thus available). The cards can be written in
any numerical order. Without particular precise details, the program
allocates numbers to be followed (strongly recommended method). At
the end of writing, permanent filing on hard disk is automatic. A
device checks co-ordinates of the new card and alarm the writer on
the existence of former cards, concerning the sites present on a
surface of 1 Km&sup2; centered on the position. This one can thus
carry out all the checks necessary in order to avoid doubles or
triple declarations (shortcoming of many data banks, even official.
It can however exist particular cases and the final decision will
always belong to the writer responsible for the card.

Selections

The call of " Selection " will open the gates of the following
headings:

Year or year and month of discovery

Author of the first discovery

Department, district, canton or commune

Writer of the card

Author of photography

Supposed or checked archaeological era

Geographical map 1/25000e (sites being reproduced on the map by
1/2 sheet).

Altitude of the site or sections of higher or lower
altitudes

Year and / or month, day of photography

Letters, numbers or words to be sought in all the headings:

Belonging to a geographical surface defined by 2 points
Lambert.

The power of these functions is really extraordinary. One will
be able to seek:

All "Maines" or them "Chez", for a toponymic study of

All ditches, or enclosures, or enclosures, or well qualifiers:
passage, triple, multiple etc

This enumeration of the possibilities of program " ARCHEO " is
by no means exhaustive so much the combinative possibilities of the
functions are considerable. It will be noted that combinative of
functions is considerable. One will note that these performances are
possible from the startup, practically without training, by a user
not-data processing specialist.

CONCLUSIONS

The operating mode of the Archaeological Bank Poitou-Charentes
is simple and logical.

Designer of the B.A.P-C. and the family of programs " ARCHEO ",
J. Dassié reserves the responsibility for management and
overall technical coordination. Each creator of file using program "
ARCHEO " takes part de facto in the Archaeological Bank
Poitou-Charentes. The archaeologists, members of the B.A.P-C., reach
the knowledge of the totality of the regional sites taken into
account, widening their geographical framework and their vision of
the archaeological problems, thus opening the possibility of many new
studies.

NOTA: With regard to duplication or transfer of photographs,
the exploitation of the rights always remains under their author' s
exclusive responsibility, protected by copyright.